Sisters to make SA swimming history
La Lucia duo will be travelling to Kazan, Russia to compete in the FINA World Open Water championships in July.
SOUTH Africa, and indeed the north, have never been short of swimming talent when it comes to competing on an international stage.
Now two La Lucia sisters, Clarice (18) and Carmen (17) le Roux, are set to carry on that trend, and in the process make history. It will be the first time in South African swimming history that two sisters will represent the country in world championships.
The duo will be travelling to Kazan, Russia to compete in the FINA World Open Water championships in July. Carmen will be competing in the 10km race, while Clarice will be competing in the 5km race.
The sisters are no strangers to international competition; both have represented their country at junior and senior levels, and are now looking to make a stake for a place in the South African Olympic squad.
At the recent SA Open Water champs in Cape Town, Carmen finished second in the 10km swim, which meant automatic qualification for the world champs, while Clarice finished third. The results were flipped around in the 5km race, with the sisters swapping positions for the silver and bronze medal places.
“I was motivated to win the 5km. I wanted to win and I was happy with my performances. What made the moment even sweeter was seeing Carmen triumph in the 10km race. I was super proud of her, and it’s a lovely feeling to be making history in Russia with my best friend and biggest competition,” Clarice said.
Her younger sister said it was a bittersweet feeling, clinching the silver medal at the national champs.
“I was leading up to the 9km mark and I felt myself tiring, which allowed the closest competitor, Michelle Webber, to pull ahead of me. It was a great feeling coming second, but I was happy and sad because I was hoping Clarice would qualify,” Carmen said.
Last year Carmen came eighth in the FINA World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Hungary, and says she is motivated to bring back a medal from Russia.
“I was really happy with my performances and I was hoping for a medal. But it’s given me some confidence ahead of this competition. I’m relishing going up against other swimmers from around the world, but I’m focusing on my own performances.
“We’ve both been training extremely hard and having Clarice by my side is awesome, because she’s experienced a senior world champs competitor. Mentally I feel we are prepared, and we’ve been each other’s motivation,” Carmen said enthusiastically.
